A routine pit stop turned into a scary moment on Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, a race in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray made contact with tire carrier Alex Morgan on pit road, sending the crew member over the hood of the No. 54 Toyota before he hit the ground.
The incident happened early in the 163-lap race during a scheduled green-flag stop. Teams were moving at full speed as they worked to gain track position.
What began as a normal tire change quickly turned tense when a loose tire rolled away from the pit box, forcing Morgan to react. Within seconds, the stop turned into one of the most talked-about moments of the race weekend.
Loose Tire Leads To Pit Road Collision
The problem started when the left-front tire bounced off the pit wall and rolled away from Gray’s pit stall. NASCAR rules require teams to keep their equipment inside the box or risk a penalty. Seeing the tire escape, 29-year-old Alex Morgan ran out to grab it and prevent a violation.
At the same time, the jack dropped, which signaled that the service on Gray’s car was complete. Gray accelerated to leave the stall just as Morgan reached the tire. The car struck Morgan on his left side.
The impact lifted Morgan into the air and flipped him over the left-front corner of the No. 54 Toyota. He still held the loose tire as he went over the hood. Broadcast coverage from CW Sports captured the moment, and the sudden flip drew a strong reaction from the booth and the crowd.
Morgan landed hard on the pavement but quickly stood up. He then walked off pit road on his own, showing no immediate sign of serious injury.
Crew Member Responds After the Incident
After the race, Morgan spoke with CW Sports and confirmed he was okay.
“I’m fine,” Morgan said. “I signed up for it. I was just trying to get it back. I guess I need to do a little better. Not like that, not on the exit of pit road. On the entry, I’ve had a couple of clips. Nothing like that before.”
He also showed concern for the team’s performance and equipment.
“I’m just glad the car is okay.”
Medical staff checked Morgan following the incident. No major injuries were reported, and he avoided a trip to the hospital. His ability to walk away helped calm fears after the dramatic contact.
Penalty Issued As Taylor Gray Recovers For Top-10 Finish
NASCAR reviewed the pit road incident and issued a safety violation penalty to the No. 54 team. Officials cited the loose tire leaving the pit box and the crew member being in an unsafe position when the car exited. As a result, Gray had to restart from the rear of the field.
The penalty cost the team track position during a competitive race. Still, Gray worked his way forward through the field over the remaining laps. He recovered to finish ninth by the end of the event.
Up front, Sheldon Creed earned the victory, securing his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win and ending a long stretch without a win for the Haas Factory Team.
Taylor Gray Hits Crew Member On Pit Road At Atlanta